Post #574052 by Cammo on Mon, Jan 31, 2011 6:34 PM

Why Destroy Tiki Palaces?

I mean, what's the reason? Is there any reason? Or are all hotel managers mindless Venusian robots? As an example, the Hanalei Hotel (I refuse to call it the Crown Plaza) is where Otto has his Big Party. It was scooped out a few years ago apparently for no reason.

These photos are great examples (thanks to Humuhumu, etc.) of the Hanalei Hotel being gutted, this ain't for the weak of stomach so VIEW WITH CAUTION.

Waterfall:

NO Waterfall!

Or to really be brutal,
BEFORE:

AFTER:

I mean, HOLY CRAP that's HORRIBLE! Here is what they did;

1. They've made a really amazing, unique, desirable destination hotel that lifts you out of your regular world into a cream-and-beige boring nightmare that is actually less interesting and attractive than your parents kitchen.

2. They've sapped every single bit of imagination from every wall, ceiling, and floor.

3. Even the menu is boring now; the Islands restaurant used to sell pretty good Polynesian items, and some decent seafood. They now sell beef sandwiches.

4. There is a sushi bar around the corner now. Give them credit.

5. The bar is just as boring.

6. There appears to be no chance ever in the future of having any entertainment anywhere on the grounds, let alone the bar, unless you bring your own stage and pay the groups like Our Man Otto.

7. The entire outside front entrance to the hotel is if anything worse, it's done in corporate glass style, meaning if you don't know what to do, build a glass wall.

So - WHY? Why do this? You would think that MORE people would like a good restaurant than a bad one, more flowers and waterfalls instead of less. Why not do exactly the opposite; why not put in MORE TIKI's????

And - this isn't an aimless ramble. Otto's Tiki Oasis is by FAR the hotel's biggest event. Even the features still left (the great atrium and the general design) bring in more people than any other event all year. So why DO THIS TO THE HANALEI?

Here's the deal - I KNOW WHY. Someone at another hotel TOLD ME. I had forgotten our conversation until this morning, and then realized that I actually know why hotels DO THIS. I know why they paint things beige. I know why a lot of Tiki Hotels have been torn down or remodeled beyond recognition. This reason probably is true of a good many Tiki Bars, too.

I KNOW.

But I want to get everybody thinking a bit about it, so I'm making this a contest.
Post answers, no matter how wild, and if anybody comes even close to the answer....

I'll mail them a SOLID BLACK OKI DOKI MUG.